Best way to ground 2x2 - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

cnc4me · 04-10-2010, 10:19 AM

So I will be building my table for my 2x2 here soon, and was wondering what would be the best way to ground the table. My table is going to be movable so it will have rubber casters which would insulate it from the ground, so besides the plasma having its ground in the plug and the ground attached to the material, should I run another ground wire to the floor?

famp · 04-10-2010, 02:28 PM

insulate or isolate?

cnc4me · 04-10-2010, 06:32 PM

I'm new to this but I would think insulate.

LASER · 04-11-2010, 07:04 AM

The correct way in general for machine tools is to provide a single ground and then "bond" the equipment amongst itself. So for a mobile machine tool, condider either a high quality clamp or bolt it to a good ground in areas of use. I assume Torchmate handles the bonding of the equipment. Bonding puts all the seperate components untimately to the same ground.

Similar to how we used the stranded cable between our chassis and frame and cab in our vehicles.

famp · 04-11-2010, 09:50 AM

The correct term is isolate

insulation is what you use in your house to "insulate" it and it itches you like a mother

Anyways, I think the best way to ground the chassis would be to bond it to the Torchmate's ground (assuming it's grounded, but it should be). Not sure how the driver box is powered up, but if it's plugged in by the three prong, 120V plug, then the green/yellow wire in the cord is ground. Make sure your outlet is grounded too.

I'd double check with Torchmate's tech support if that can be done and not void warranty.

Another option is to ground it separately by getting a regular plug and just wire the ground line. (Make sure you know what pin is the ground, the round one out of the three

). The down side is that you'd need to make sure you plug both cables before running your table. The first option is best, in my opinion.

Hope that helps.

SoundManCO · 04-11-2010, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famp

... check with Torchmate's tech support ...

This.

cnc4me · 04-12-2010, 04:43 AM

Has anyone else on this forum worried about grounding their custom built tables? I may be over thinking this but better safe than sorry. What worries me the most is that my 2 year old son loves to be in the garage with me, and even though I watch him like a hawk it would only take a second for him to touch the table legs or some other part of my table. So I want to make sure he or anyone else won't get the shock of their life.

Gusagus · 04-12-2010, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc4me

Has anyone else on this forum worried about grounding their custom built tables? I may be over thinking this but better safe than sorry. What worries me the most is that my 2 year old son loves to be in the garage with me, and even though I watch him like a hawk it would only take a second for him to touch the table legs or some other part of my table. So I want to make sure he or anyone else won't get the shock of their life.

if touching the table you get shocked something has gone very wrong. power is going to take the path of least resistance. normally it should be going from the torch to the ground clamp. high frequency noise might be generated which can interfear with other electronics but you shouldn't be getting shocked from it. with the little one around the only thing to worry about should be the shower of sparks coming of fthe torch.

HardcorewannabeXJ · 04-12-2010, 08:32 AM

If you were to ground the 2x2, or a custom built table that the 2x2 is sitting on, I would recommend a point off the leg that would run to a dedicated earth ground.

That being said, you shouldn't need to ground your 2x2 unless you are using a high frequency start cutter. With a high frequency start cutter, the noise generated at the start of the cut can interrupt communication between the computer and the signal generator kicking it offline. If you are not having this problem, I wouldn't worry about earth grounding the table. If you are, then I would start with grounding the table and the cover of the plasma cutter.

The table shouldn't "shock" you in anyway, and if it is then most likely you have another issue. I would be most worried about the sparks and bright lights in regards to children being around and keeping them away from that.

waynehartwig · 04-12-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnc4me

Has anyone else on this forum worried about grounding their custom built tables? I may be over thinking this but better safe than sorry. What worries me the most is that my 2 year old son loves to be in the garage with me, and even though I watch him like a hawk it would only take a second for him to touch the table legs or some other part of my table. So I want to make sure he or anyone else won't get the shock of their life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gusagus

if touching the table you get shocked something has gone very wrong. power is going to take the path of least resistance. normally it should be going from the torch to the ground clamp. high frequency noise might be generated which can interfear with other electronics but you shouldn't be getting shocked from it. with the little one around the only thing to worry about should be the shower of sparks coming of fthe torch.

Yes, but not worried about electrocution <sp?>. I'm more worried about noise and interferrence with the electronics.

My guess is if it's cutting, your not goign to get zapped if you touch the table, regardless of how your grounds are.

04-10-2010, 10:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
cnc4me Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Member # 156241 Posts: 41	Best way to ground 2x2 So I will be building my table for my 2x2 here soon, and was wondering what would be the best way to ground the table. My table is going to be movable so it will have rubber casters which would insulate it from the ground, so besides the plasma having its ground in the plug and the ground attached to the material, should I run another ground wire to the floor?

04-11-2010, 07:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
LASER Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Member # 66858 Location: Hudson, NH Posts: 367	The correct way in general for machine tools is to provide a single ground and then "bond" the equipment amongst itself. So for a mobile machine tool, condider either a high quality clamp or bolt it to a good ground in areas of use. I assume Torchmate handles the bonding of the equipment. Bonding puts all the seperate components untimately to the same ground. Similar to how we used the stranded cable between our chassis and frame and cab in our vehicles. __________________ Member Deep Woods Extreme 4X4 Club Of Southern NH.

04-11-2010, 09:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
famp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Member # 83729 Location: Here and there Posts: 359	The correct term is isolate insulation is what you use in your house to "insulate" it and it itches you like a mother Anyways, I think the best way to ground the chassis would be to bond it to the Torchmate's ground (assuming it's grounded, but it should be). Not sure how the driver box is powered up, but if it's plugged in by the three prong, 120V plug, then the green/yellow wire in the cord is ground. Make sure your outlet is grounded too. I'd double check with Torchmate's tech support if that can be done and not void warranty. Another option is to ground it separately by getting a regular plug and just wire the ground line. (Make sure you know what pin is the ground, the round one out of the three). The down side is that you'd need to make sure you plug both cables before running your table. The first option is best, in my opinion. Hope that helps.

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04-10-2010, 02:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
famp Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Member # 83729 Location: Here and there Posts: 359	insulate or isolate?

04-10-2010, 06:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
cnc4me Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Member # 156241 Posts: 41	I'm new to this but I would think insulate.

04-12-2010, 04:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
cnc4me Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Member # 156241 Posts: 41	Has anyone else on this forum worried about grounding their custom built tables? I may be over thinking this but better safe than sorry. What worries me the most is that my 2 year old son loves to be in the garage with me, and even though I watch him like a hawk it would only take a second for him to touch the table legs or some other part of my table. So I want to make sure he or anyone else won't get the shock of their life.

04-12-2010, 08:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
HardcorewannabeXJ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Member # 84593 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,004	If you were to ground the 2x2, or a custom built table that the 2x2 is sitting on, I would recommend a point off the leg that would run to a dedicated earth ground. That being said, you shouldn't need to ground your 2x2 unless you are using a high frequency start cutter. With a high frequency start cutter, the noise generated at the start of the cut can interrupt communication between the computer and the signal generator kicking it offline. If you are not having this problem, I wouldn't worry about earth grounding the table. If you are, then I would start with grounding the table and the cover of the plasma cutter. The table shouldn't "shock" you in anyway, and if it is then most likely you have another issue. I would be most worried about the sparks and bright lights in regards to children being around and keeping them away from that.